裏金事件 自民32人は還流を認識
✍️記事要約
自民党は１５日、派閥による政治資金規正法違反事件を受け、関与した議員らに行った事情聴取の報告書を公表した。パーティー収入の還流を受けた８５人のうち、３２人は還流を認識し、５３人は人件費などに使っていた。自民は国会の政治倫理審査会を開き、関係者に説明させる方向で調整に入った。
聴取は安倍、二階両派の国会議員８２人と元議員ら３人、６派閥・２グループの事務総長ら計９１人に行われ、報告書は自民が依頼した弁護士が議員らの回答を匿名にしてとりまとめた。
議員と元議員ら８５人の全てで還流が確認され、総額は２０１８～２２年の５年間で５億７９４９万円に上り、個別では３５２６万円が最多だった。
還流の方法は、パーティー券販売収入に関しノルマ超過分を派閥から戻す「還付方式」が５３人、議員側で預かるプール方式が１６人、両方の組み合わせが１６人だった。使い道は、懇親会費や書籍代、人件費、手土産代など１５の実例が列挙された。
還流を認識していた３２人のうち、安倍派の１１人は政治資金収支報告書に記載していなかったことも把握していた。理由について、派閥の指示を受けた対応だったためだとの回答が複数あった。安倍派で還流が始まった経緯について、報告書は「判然としないものの、遅くとも十数年前から行われていた可能性が高い」と指摘した。
岸田首相（党総裁）は報告書を受け取った後、首相官邸で「あらゆる機会をとらえ、国民の信頼回復に向け、関係者に説明責任を果たしてもらわないといけない」と記者団に語った。政倫審の開催を念頭に置いたものとみられる。
自民の萩生田光一・前政調会長は同日、党本部で政倫審への出席に関し、「出席の明確な基準が公表され、その対象になるなら拒むものではない」と記者団に述べた。萩生田氏は安倍派で中枢を担う「５人衆」の一人。５人衆では、松野博一・前官房長官と西村康稔・前経済産業相、世耕弘成・前参院幹事長が政倫審出席に応じる意向で、高木毅・前国会対策委員長は態度を明確にしていない。
■英訳
On the 15th, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) disclosed a report on the hearings conducted with members involved in the political funding violation case related to factions. Out of 85 individuals who received party income flows, 32 acknowledged the inflow, while 53 used it for personnel expenses, among other things. The LDP is coordinating to hold a political ethics committee in the Diet to have those involved explain their actions. The hearings were conducted with 82 members from the Abe and Nikai factions, three former members, and 91 individuals including secretaries-general from six factions and two groups. The report, compiled by lawyers appointed by the LDP, anonymized the responses of the members. All 85 current and former members confirmed the inflows, totaling ¥579.49 million over five years from 2018 to 2022, with ¥35.26 million being the highest individual amount. The methods of inflow included 53 individuals returning excess quotas from factional ticket sales, 16 using a pool system managed by the members, and 16 using a combination of both methods. Fifteen examples of usage were listed, including social gathering fees, book expenses, personnel expenses, and gift expenses. Among the 32 who acknowledged the inflow, 11 from the Abe faction were aware that it was not reported in their political funding reports. The report suggested that although it was unclear when inflows began in the Abe faction, it was likely happening for over a decade. Prime Minister Kishida, upon receiving the report, stated at the Prime Minister's Office that "we must seize every opportunity to fulfill our responsibility to explain to the public and restore their trust." It is presumed that this statement was made with the intention of holding the political ethics committee. Hagiuda Koichi, former chairman of the party's Policy Research Council, stated at the party headquarters on the same day regarding attendance at the political ethics committee, "If clear criteria for attendance are announced and I am a subject, I will not refuse." Hagiuda is one of the "Five" who holds a central position in the Abe faction. Among the "Five," former Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno and former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura, and former Chairman of the House of Councillors Hiroshi Seko intend to attend the political ethics committee, while former Chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee Takeshi Takagi has not clearly stated his stance.
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